Trying to get this to fit the word limit was impossible. Sorry for the length, but I hope you have enough material to get the ball rolling.
Selfe poses an important problem – the lack of involvement of sound in the classroom. I think the crux of her article, and the continuation of the class’s conversation on Nov. 3rd can be found in the following quote:
“When teachers of composition limit the bandwidth of composing modalities in our classrooms and assignments, when we privilege print as the only acceptable way to make or exchange meaning, we not only ignore the history of rhetoric and its intellectual inheritance, but we also limit, unnecessarily, our scholarly understanding of semiotic systems (Kress, “English”) and the effectiveness of our instruction for many students.”(The Movement of Air, the Breath of Meaning: Aurality and Multimodal Composing Cynthia L. Selfe 618)
Many curricula are planned around the importance of writing, especially in ELA. What we need to do as teachers is incorporate as many media as possible to capture the complete essence of our language. Students across the disciplines encounter a variety of media in their school day: slides in science, Video in English, Read aloud in social studies, and dialogue in any class. I think that no matter the content, the “trust” factor must come into play, and the dialogue will follow.
“Students, in sum, need opportunities to realize that different compositional modalities carry with them different possibilities for representing multiple and shifting patterns of identity, additional potential for expression and resistance, expanded ways of engaging with a changing world.” ( Selfe 645)
Another aspect of this multimedia world we are being propelled into (along with or behind our students) is the incredibly broad spectrum of references that we can encounter. These references can be obvious or subtle, but once they are recognized, they become part of the students “intertextual” world. Students do this all the time by quoting from their favorite songs or TV shows in their own conversations; they bring in one reference to strengthen their own words. This dip into a reference pool shows that students can utilize various references in appropriate contexts.
“New communication technologies, it is frequently argued, have the potential to give us access to more and different kinds of texts. They thus by their nature, we could argue, generate a kind of intertextuality…”the necessary relation of any utterance to other utterances”…” (Dropping Bread Crumbs in the Intertextual Forest Critical Literacy in a Post Modern Age or: Should We Have Brought a Compass Diana George & Diane Shoos 118)
Last but not least, a brief touch on chapter 9 from ND. This chapter seems to be something that could be applied to a character study of a text. Which characters get along, which characters are in conflict and which characters contrast each other? It could also be useful to use these ideas when helping students plan a paper. I think that by linking jargon from the tech world that so many kids are (quickly) gaining knowledge in everyday to our boring classrooms, we can help them make connections that will enable them to carry the tools for planning a proper persuasive essay or resume in their future. Do you think that this would be something you could establish in your classroom? Or do you think it would just be another waste of time teaching tool that you use to look good for your administration?
27 comments:
Irene, all I can say is "WOW" with regard to your entry. You certainly put more than enough in it to get the ball rolling. I agree with you that we encounter a wide variety of references that become a part of the students'
"intertextual" world. It is very difficult to help them realize that they have this ability because they tend to shut down and not remember anything when it comes to any type of learning material. In the past,I have used several Simpsons' episodes to help my students relate to a particular topic. For instance, when my class read A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, I showed them the Simpsons' episode called "A Streetcar Named Marge" with Marge playing the role of Blanche. My students thoroughly enjoyed the connection and then understood what was behind the episode. I knew that they made the connection when one student told me she was watching Jeopardy with her father and she knew the question about A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE because of the Simpsons' and the play read in class. Sometimes I try to have the students make up rhymes or a rap song so that they can remember a theme, character, or other literary element. While using outside references is a excellent way to get your students to remember what they have learned, you have to be extremely careful with what you introduce into your lesson. You never know if someone might be offended or if a parent would strongly disapprove of you exposing their child to something they found not appropriate - classes have diverse populations.
In Chapter 12 of WACNM, Thaiss discusses the new standards for "good writing" and the many consequences that will follow.
Now, teaching writing will also include teaching computer skills and, therefore, the teacher must also be computer savy and one or two steps ahead of the students. [It's a good thing that I plan on retiring in 6 years because I can "fake" only so much with regard to my "savy" computer
skills :-)] Also, as was discussed last week, all students must have access to computers, hardware, software, etc. in order to succeed in this age of technology.
Hello Ann
I liked what you said about the student’s world becoming intertextual. In high school I watched the Simpsons episode about the Raven. I can see the value of using the visual to connect to and bring out aspects of the written word. When I read the poem “O Captain, My Captain,” by Whitman, my teacher showed us the film “The Dead Poets Society.” I also like that you have the students create their own works to help them remember. I think that a student creating something themselves is much more informative for them than watching what someone else has created. That offers them the opportunity to focus on what will help them learn best. Selfe says, “I hope to encourage teachers to … provide students the opportunities of developing expertise with all available means of persuasion and expression…” Selfe is talking about the benefits outside of the written word. Sometimes hearing things offers a better understanding. Creating a rhyme, as you suggested Ann, can sometimes be more stimulating than repeating the word(s) and definition(s) over and over again. A picture can have the same effect.
When I was reading chapter 12 of WACNM I had the same thought. In the not so distant future, teaching is definitely going to hinge on using, understanding and teaching computer technology. I am pretty good with figuring out the computer, but all I can think is that I would be afraid to teach the children that Gee interviewed because they will always know a little bit more than I do. They figured out how to redesign video games! What will I be able to teach them about the computer? And, will whatever I create on the computer seem elementary to them?
-- Nicoll
Hi, Sara
I forgot about pictures being used in the class to help the students learn. I do that also - it's in the Freshmen syllabus with regard to Greek gods and goddesses. We show a picture of Zeus, Athene, etc. and ask the students to brainstorm such as who is this person, what is he/she doing. The students like this type of stimulation and seem to remember something about the god/godess in question.
Well, I definitely know that whatever I attempt to create on the computer will be elementary to all of my students. I will even exclaim that that it will be preschool level! However,far as you are concerned, I have the utmost faith in your abilities so, please, do not worry - you will be more than just OK in that department!
Ann and Heller,
I want to respond to both your ideas. I'll start with Heller. I think you're really on to something when you talk about Selfe's ideas. Bringing media into the classroom is most certainly a great way to get student in the experience. What is a good way to do this? I would think class trips, videos, maybe even the use of the newpaper or outside magazine incorporated into the classroom are all little ways to get the hand on experience. I am not totally against the idea of lecture in the classroom, but it can only be so much. Just listening to an endless voice for how ever long the period last for, maybe 45 minutes, maybe an hour. "Connect the outside world in the classroom (Selfe). In my opinion you have to, when you see an opportunity to do so I think it will be helpful (ex: In history if you are talking about The Liberty Bell, try and organize a trip to Philidelphia). I think actually seeing this will make it a great experience.
Your whole bringing students favorite shows, or favorite bands perhaps is a great way to get them to relate, or maybe even understand something better. I mean to bring it back to the beginning of the semester when Pratt was explaining about her son and his baseball cards.He was able to take something he likes, a hobby, and learn history lessons through the players and their stories. I think it's fantastic! I mean he was able to learn about racism from Jackie Robinson and the economical downfall through America's pastime. If we can discover way to get more things like this into the classroom I think it would be very successful.
Ann, I thought using that Simpson's episode was a great way to make the connection for the students. As a student myself something using outside media, like Selfe and Heller said really helps for a better experience and understanding.
As far as Ch 12 in WACNM, I think writing to learn and learning to write most definitly have different meanings in different classrooms. Learning to write for Science is going to be different than learning to write in an English room. I don't know if I have and idea for a program that can do both in an effective way, but I would really like to think about it, for I think it could be something really great.
Technology in writing seems to be a huge subject matter in this classroom and I don't know if I really feel like it is that significant. I do, however, this it is important, but isn't writing on paper and typing on the computer the same thing? I think computers are a great tool, but writing on a piece of looseleaf is just as effective. I think technology helps more from a teachers point of view.
---Scarpa
James Coccaro- First Response
Hello Sara,
Great post! I love what you said about hearing information as a way to learn for auditory learners. It reminds me of the concept of differentiating instruction to teach to students’ different modalities. The article by Shoos also touches upon the idea of how important visual communication is, and I fear that many people do not deem it as important as written work. Shoos explains that images create “new conversation[s]” that people develop because they bring aspects of “a cultural matrix” to the table (Shoos117,119). I feel that this acknowledgement solidifies the notion that images can convey concepts that written text cannot because it allows visual references to interplay-- that is what we see in the real world, film, and other images can be used to reinterpret deliberate images and allows the reader an opportunity to receive a rush of information in an instant. While this is possible with text, truly complex concepts can be more quickly displayed with an image, at times. For example, a certain facial expression can convey an emotion that might take a paragraph to explain. Therefore, combining visuals and traditional text (like in a comic book) can, and should, be considered just as intellectual as traditional literature.
While I found most of chapter 12 in WACNM a bit vague, I really liked the segment on WIC because I think it’s a very refreshing idea to “remov[e] the assumption of disciplinary ‘fit’” (Thaiss 316). I think the author was on an interesting tangent about how the removal of the discipline title allows the professor to morph the class in whichever direction he or she prefers. However his comment that “[w]e may find that the teacher draws theory from texts usually categorized according to other nebulous disciplines” is something that already happens (Thaiss 316). Many of my English classes pull articles from other disciplines: sociology and philosophy being the most prominent. I have even looked at international current affairs articles in an English course. Perhaps this happens because CSI practices WAC, WID, and WIC!
I guess my question that I would like to pose to the other students is whether or not you think that e-mail, blogs, and twitter in a classroom is a fad or a reality here to stay? At times the ideas seem very valid, but at others they just seem like a lot of bells and whistles. I personally feel we need to teach kids how to write before we let them drop all the laws of grammar and spelling to twitter their response to a book. What does everyone else think?
James Coccaro
I think we have two different questions here. I will start off with bringing media in the classroom. I am all for that. I think using movies, tv shows, newspapers, and things of that nature can help students relate to certain content material. The media is controlled by us, they give us what we want to hear, see, etc. It is a way of teaching students who we really are. In watching an old movie you find out many different aspects of life in that time. In watching an old sporting event you are not just watching a game, but a piece of history. An old movie can show students the different ways we addressed sex in different era`s. It can show students the different ways people talked and dressed. There are old boxing matches that you can show your students which have impacted history greatly. Boxing is a great way to teach history.
However the thing we must be careful about is losing who we really are. We must not throw away the written word in order to embrace the new times. You can still teach with a book as long as its the right book. You must still teach your students to write in more ways than just e mails and blogs and things of that genre. It is important to relate to your students, but you must do it in a way where you still teach them.
James Coccaro-Second Post
Dear Ronald,
Great point about bringing movies into the classroom! I agree that students can learn a lot about how things used to look by viewing film and pictures. At the same time, I also feel the written word can give great insight into the past. Sometimes, it can be even stronger because I find the written word seems to be censored less than film. For example, a Sherlock Holmes story retains all the prejudice remarks it originally did while the film chooses not to display them. I feel that in this way, a written work might give students a better look at how people used to carry themselves and what the social norms and values used to be.
Either way, both film and novels are great ways to allow kids to see into the past!
James Coccaro
Coccaro and Ritter,
I fully agree with you Ritter when you say that we cannot lose what we truly believe in as English Majors the written word will always be first to any of this new technology, it doesn't have to be written in a sense of pen and paper, but any writing at all including typing, but I understand what you mean by not forgetting where the roots of writing began. It has evolved a long way since chiseling into a stone, but with all this technology it's easy to get lost.
As far as using movies in class, I was always a fan of that if it helps the subject matter. Using movies and books to compare is a great idea. I've also had the movie XMEN used in my chemistry class to help understand mutations. I think any way to creatively get the students engaged in the subject matter is terrific.
Coccaro, as far as what you are asking, is all this technology like emails, twitter, and blog just a fad? Here are my thoughts about that, because I think I would be leaning more towards yes, it is. Email and internet has come a long way since I was in grade school. I personally think I didn't fine without it. I think the web is a great tool for research, but I think it was just fine when you had to go to the library and do it there as well. Facebook and twitter are just fads, people will eventually get bored and it will no longer be used, but it's here and now. If you use these tools to teach, I think it's great, but don't rely on them to teach or get the class interested. There are tons of other ways to use hands on materials. Old fashion writing with a pen and paper will never be a fad, will never go "out of style" so to speak. After email, there might be something else, technology is not a product it's constantly evolving into something bigger and better.
---Scarpa
Reflection:
I'm going to add my reflection at the end of this post and also on my own blog because I'm not sure where we are supposed to put it.
I think this method of discussion boards is really great. I would most definitely bring this into my classroom, and the reason being is it's not just the teacher telling you what's wrong, and answering your questions. You can have conversations and ask questions to your peers, which I think is a really great way to see what page everyone else is on and what they are thinking about the reading and about the subject matter at hand.It also help to see if you've missed anything and sometimes reintroduces what you've already read, and makes you go back to look at it and maybe understand it a little better the second or third time around. I'm all for classroom discussion boards!
Dear Scarpa,
I am writing this in regards to your post on what you said to Coccaro and Ritter. I absolutely, absolutely agree that written english takes presidence over any new technological advances. As an English Major, and an English Teacher I have to say that I believe strongly in English in the more traditional way. I mean, many years of my life has been spent learning how the English language has evolved and came to be over the years, can I just throw it away for some new technology? No. But I am not saying that I wouldn't adapt either, because I would. Sometimes the way in which the world moves does not allow for us to fall behind, it is almost like we have to keep up with the new trends and the changes. But, all in all, I think technology gets carried away in many cases, I believe remembering our roots is a huge factor in our sucesses and wellbeing.
As far as watching movies in class, I was never truly a fan of them. I found them to be tiring, boring, and off subject. I do believe however, if the movie really did relate to the content covered in class or covered in a book we've read, and if it acts as a learning tool then yes I would use it. but on many occassasions I was told to read a book and then when the book was done the teacher woudl show us a movie which varied greatly from the book. Why show us this? Compare and contrast? Sometimes yes, but on many occassions the teachers' thought it was a "treat", and I must say I was not very pleased. I think showing clips of movies or of a variety of movies is perhaps more beneficial, useful, and appreciated than a long 2 hour movie that needs to be split between two days simply because classes are only 40 minutes long.
I too believe much of these new technologies such as blogging and twitter are simply fads. Somethings stick and others fade away. I don't know how long twitter will last, personally i am not too big a fan of twitter, but thats just my opinion. I think it will be replaced with something bigger and better in the future. When things are "new" they tend to be over rated, and with time people see things for what they really are.
P.S. I kind of miss going to library and checking out books, and reading them for research. I feel like some of this technology has taught me how to avoid working hard and truly benefitting from certain things. Like I have said before I believe it has made me lazy, and I sometimes feel like I do not earn or learn as much now as I did when I was younger simply because I worked much harder as a kid and the reward of completing my work successfully was much greater when there was more effort. I dont know if I am saying this right, or if its only me who feels this way. What do you think? Am I just lazy, or do you understand how technology has a way of "doing things for us" that we use to do for ourseleves??
Moody
P.S.S I posted my reflection elsewhere. Professor Let me know if you found it. It is with the blogs we did last week.
Hi All,
I was thinking about Scarpa and Coccaro's conversation on technology and fads. I agree! I think today's technology is not needed to learn (we all did fine without when we were in grammar school). However, the world is changing and without learning the new technology a child who is 8 years old now may find it very difficult to succeed once they are graduating high school. In addition, it took us longer to do homework assignments, we had to write out our school work by hand and take breaks from cramps. I think today's children have a lot more stressors because of what is expected from them. They are expected to finish things quickly and move on. They are expected to multi-task. I think this lack of focus is the problem for young children and their learning behaviors and I also think it will only become worse. School and life becomes stressful because of the lack of time and the lack of dedication one can put into any
area.
Which brings me to the importance of balancing "Writing to learn" and "learning to write" and it also "varies from school to school, teacher to teacher, class to class, assignment to assignment, even from thought to thought within a teacher's response to a group of papers or to a single paper " (WACNM). As Heller questioned, I think there needs to be a balance and I think both needed to be utilized in the classroom. Most often with the way technology speeds up the process, students aren't given enough time to reflect, become creative, and think critically. Most children are taught basics "learn to write" at an early age and these basics aren't reviewed again until they are taught "writing to learn." Most teachers feel students should know the basics at a certain age, but like anything else if the basics are only practiced or reviewed at the age of 7 then how do students learn to write? It seems like more of the focus is on using writing to learn when the writing isn't learned yet.
Reflection: Posted on my Blog Page
First Post
Jayme,
I agree with you, when you say that “technology is not needed to learn.” However, I do think it is a great assistive tool for learning. Technology just offers us so much today that we did not have in the past and it makes a lot of things more easy and convenient as well, such as gaining information via the internet. Honestly, what would we do without it? Although I do believe it is definitely possible to learn without technology, I also believe we are somewhat dependent on technology to a certain extent.
I was very fascinated when you stated “think today's children have a lot more stressors because of what is expected from them. They are expected to finish things quickly and move on. They are expected to multi-task. I think this lack of focus is the problem for young children and their learning behaviors and I also think it will only become worse,” because I was not aware that this was the situation with young children today. I definitely believe that having a focus when both teaching and learning is essential to accomplishing either goal.
And when you stated “School and life becomes stressful because of the lack of time and the lack of dedication one can put into any area,” I immediately related to that statement. However, I feel that young children should not have to go through that experience because it would turn them off from school. As teachers, it is our job not only to engage and motivate our students, we must also gradually prepare them for their futures, including future educational career, working career, and life in general. This is why we must not only teach them content, but also teach them how to learn at the same time. In other words, we must teach them how to adapt to new technologies and to teach themselves how to adapt and learn.
I agree with you when you state that it is important to balance writing to learn and learning to write. You and Heller are correct to state that there needs to be a balance and both types of strategies must be utilized in the classroom.
I believe that the most important observation you have made is that “students aren't given enough time to reflect, become creative, and think critically.” I see this as a real problem. During our teacher training, reflection is something that has consistently been emphasized. We are expected to become “Reflective teachers.” However, I believe that ever student would benefit from reflecting on their own work, actions, thoughts, no matter what their future career choice may be.
Rachael Albanese
I'm with you on incorporating multimedia into the classroom. I have always believed that writing and the process of it should be based on communication and multimedia is a form of communication. Students would benefit from using more than one form of communication to learn about writing because it is based on knowledge of language. I agree with Emig on this point. She explains it perfectly. I might not be explaining it properly or to its full potential but I hope you know what I'm trying to get at. I would definetly attempt to add it into my curriculum but today with all the rules and regulations with the DOE and the NCLB, I don't know if it would be possible. In todays teaching world I think being radical in the classroom is kind of difficult and it doesn't seem possible.
Reflection:
This discussion board stuff is okay but I find it to be a difficult task, especially because I didn't have access to a computer for the process. It is a useful way to share information among classmates but I can see how students would get discouraged from it at the same time. If all the students had adequate access or a few minutes before class to add to the discussion, I can see it being beneficial. In a classroom equiped with internet access and adequate time for the students to discuss amongst each other, then it would be a great source of multimedia use in the classroom. So, it is possible and beneficial in the classroom as long as the equipment is accessable to all the students. I can only hope that this would be an option for me when I begin to teach, but if not, I'm sure I can come up with other ideas.
Heller
My response was to some of your question. Sorry, I forgot to state that initially.
Christina Diaz
Second Post:
Christina,
Thank you for responding to my post. Yes, we absolutely should incorporate multimedia into our classrooms because new multimodal technology is surely beneficial to all of the different types of learners. I agree with you, when you state “Students would benefit from using more than one form of communication to learn about writing because it is based on knowledge of language.” However, isn’t multimedia much more than just a form of communication? I believe multimedia is definitely useful when used as a form of communication, but it also has so many other functions both inside and outside of the classroom.
I definitely understand what you are trying to say. However, I believe what people have been trying to say in the prior comments is not that multimedia and technologies are not great tools to work with in the classroom, but that we cannot completely rely on them. There should still be some traditional writing in the classroom, at least I believe so and it seems that many other people in the class agree.
I am not sure what you mean when you say “but today with all the rules and regulations with the DOE and the NCLB, I don't know if it would be possible. In today’s teaching world I think being radical in the classroom is kind of difficult and it doesn't seem possible.” If you are saying that it is difficult to incorporate multimedia and technology into the classroom today, I would have to strongly disagree. I think that teachers are being encouraged to do so, by administration, professors, and other educators. In a sense, almost pushed to do so too much. For example, all teachers are encouraged to learn how to use a smartboard, a technology that would be used every day. And if a teacher has a smartboard in their classroom, they are basically expected to use it every day. And I believe smartboards are a great innovation, I do, but I just do not believe that we should focus so much on technology, where it is the center of our teaching. I believe it should be used as a supportive tool.
I would also incorporate some forms of multimedia and technology into my classroom. However, I would not want my class to be centered on it. I believe that today too many teachers rely too heavily on the use of technologies, trying to create students who are technology savvy, at times disregarding what is most important, the content. And I also believe that the content should be taught in several different ways to reach all students of all different learning styles.
Therefore, we cannot solely depend on technology in the classroom because there are probably many students who are not technology savvy but cannot excel with the use of other modes of learning. Therefore, traditional reading, writing, teaching, and learning still holds value today.
Rachael Albanese
REFLECTION:
I like the discussion board form of blogging. I believe it definitely has its benefits. For example, students receive the opportunity to see a wide range of perspectives, on one or several topics, other than their own and students also receive the opportunity to build on each other’s ideas. I think this teaches students to really listen to each other and attempt to understand what other people are trying to say, which are definitely good skills to practice. In general, it promotes good communication skills among students.
However, it also definitely has its limits and constraints. For example, the students which comment after the first student are somewhat forced to go in the same direction as the first poster and the posters who came before them. You can add additional ideas, however they must be somehow related to what the others have already said or your post would not fit in the discussion board chain. That takes away some freedom from the assignment.
It is also a very messy process and sometimes difficult to follow. This is why I would not use this form of blogging in one of my own classes. I believe it would be too difficult for high school students to handle, unless I were to restructure the assignment and ask certain people to blog at certain times. I believe this type of blog system is more appropriate for college students than younger students.
There are additional limitations, which include the fact that while you are writing a response to one student’s post another student could beat you to it and comment on that post before you, then when you are done writing your post does not make sense or fit into the chain because you have responded to someone who has already been responded to! Then what are you supposed to do, start over responding to the next person? That is simply frustrating. I guess I just don’t like the structure of this type of blog.
To be completely honest this was my least favorite format of blogging which we have done this semester.
I agree with Joeyshoe that we can not lose what we are as English teachers.We must not go away from the great writers of the past, or stop trying to create great writers of the future.We must use the media and technology to help us teach English, not to teach a different content matter. Technology can be very useful, but it must be kept in its place.We have been using the written word to record history since as far as humainty goes back and we must not stop that, because we have new gadgets to play with. Movies as I said before are very useful to bring into the classroom. It is a way to get students to pay attention to what you are trying to teach. It also can create a shock value, if that is what you are aiming for. This is my second post and I put the reflection on my blogspot.
I believe that media can be more effective in teaching any subject and can be more useful that teaching with just a novel. We leave in a see it to believe generation that has been taken over by television, computers, phones and the internet. Students use less writing to communicate by using acronyms for words. We can now communicate more with less words so the school system needs to implement a curriculum that incorporates all forms of media. Writing to learn and learning to write go hand in hand because to be an effective writer a student must learn all the necessary information to communicate his/her point. Also practicing writing students are learning how to become better writers. Incorporating technologies in the classroom will make students more savvy in the world around them because many jobs are being replaced by computers and many jobs are going paperless. Students who will learn how to function in the new age technological world will be able to do many jobs in the years to come. i believe computer science will be a requirement for students to learn in the years to come. I think the key to helping students to learn is making it so fun or something they can relate to so they do not feel like they are learning, but communicating. Implementing intertextuality can be very easy if you allow students to use at least one of their own references. Bringing a lesson or activity back to where the student can guide it is key in keeping them enthusiastic about their work.
Reflection
The blogs were a very interesting aspect to the traditional classroom organization. I was able to read my peers perspective on the readings and have a dialogue outside the classroom. This is good because I am constantly learning in and outside the classroom using technology. I had never used a blog before so this was very new to me. It gives a feeling like you are writing on twitter or facebook, sort of. I wish we could have discussed our problems with assignments and helped each other within the discussion boards. I think I could use this in my classroom because the students would like to share their ideas with their peers. I could use this in place of low stakes writing assignments like homework. Many students do not like doing homework so this may be an alternative to keep students writing and learning outside of the classroom.
Hi James.
Thanks for responding to me. I really like your question about electronic media being a fad or not. I don’t know if these particular sites are here to stay but with ECAC catching on, I definitely think that these things will always be around in some form. I mean, an attorney in Australia used Facebook to serve a legal Summons so I don’t think electronic media is going away. I think it is up to the teacher to harness the power of the web and use it for good. I would can totally see teachers telling students to tweet them questions when the teacher is not readily available.
I agree with you that students need to know how to write formally however, I think that the classroom is the place for that. I see no problem with informal assignments being done on the internet. One of my undergrad classes had a Facebook group instead of a discussion board or blackboard.
--Sarah
Priebe’s discussion board reflection: I liked the discussion board activity. I enjoyed it because it bolstered my resolve and boosted my ego when my classmates would agree with me. It made me feel good. Vanity, vanity. As I have mentioned previously, I know that you, Dr. Muhlhauser, are always going to be looking over my shoulder and grading whatever I write, and I am very grade conscious, so it is hard to forget that and just let myself go. Still, even if you were not reading them a certain amount of decorum would be in order. I could see myself using this exercise if I had an academically accomplished class—something like an advance placement or honors group. It is sometimes necessary for me to force myself to give an opinion, not that I don’t have one, but that I don’t always want to share my opinion. I feel that I am too negative or cynical at times. I would rather not attack, but if forced to write, then . . . well, I have to write something don’t I? I also believe that many of the entries showed that the material had not been read. Overall, I would give the discussion board assignment a 7 because it was a good tune, but you couldn’t dance to it.
Yo Priebe,
Liked your post but what you to look at it another way.
A "7"!!!? NO, way--9.5 for sure. For me as the observer and occasional actor, these are a kick to read. I would never question anyone's reading practices and feel like if readings were skimmed or ignored or not completely understood, then reading the discussion board can make up for it.
Muhlhauser
hey Rachael,
Thanx for the response. I do agree with you that its the teachers job to intrigue students to want to engage in school activities. I do think technology is a huge part in a child's education. However, I wonder how we can have them focus on just one thing at a time. I think this would decrease stress and also allow students to retain and learn information more successfully. I mentioned the point on multitasking and levels of stress in children, because I think children and now most adults have too much going on in their mind at once. I think it can be unhealthy. For example, when we did not have cellphones there was no interruption during our daily activities. So we were more focused on the matters at hand.
Hello All,
I have to agree with you McNiff by saying that it is the teacher’s job to intrigue students to want to do school activities. One of the reasons why I wanted to become an educator was because I wanted to engage my students by being the person who makes it fun and exciting. One of my other dreams in life was to be an entertainer and I looked at the front of my classroom as a stage to make sure my students are engaged into my lessons. I was intrigues by what the author Shoos said that we cannot lose what we are as English teachers. As English teachers we have a purpose to make sure that our students will come out of our class a better writer, and enter them more into the writing discourse community.
Reflection:
I personally enjoyed the Discussion Board, it was an informal place that made me feel comfortable enough to add my own ideas. I also feel like I learned more then what the readings had given me because I was gaining knowledge by reading what others thought about it.
I have to say that I would not add this into my classroom because I feel like it is not structured enough for a secondary level. As college students we are able to respect each other’s opinion, and in a high school class I do not think that they would respect each other.
Sincerely,
Rosemarie Civitano
Hello All,
I have to agree with you McNiff by saying that it is the teacher’s job to intrigue students to want to do school activities. One of the reasons why I wanted to become an educator was because I wanted to engage my students by being the person who makes it fun and exciting. One of my other dreams in life was to be an entertainer and I looked at the front of my classroom as a stage to make sure my students are engaged into my lessons. I was intrigues by what the author Shoos said that we cannot lose what we are as English teachers. As English teachers we have a purpose to make sure that our students will come out of our class a better writer, and enter them more into the writing discourse community.
Reflection:
I personally enjoyed the Discussion Board, it was an informal place that made me feel comfortable enough to add my own ideas. I also feel like I learned more then what the readings had given me because I was gaining knowledge by reading what others thought about it.
I have to say that I would not add this into my classroom because I feel like it is not structured enough for a secondary level. As college students we are able to respect each other’s opinion, and in a high school class I do not think that they would respect each other.
Sincerely,
Rosemarie Civitano
[url=http://cyclosporine.webs.com]nebenwirkungen von sandimmun
[/url] jiri nevoral
sandimmun presentacion
ordering Ciclosporin
[url=http://www.microgiving.com/profile/ribavirin]copegus online
[/url] purchase rebetol
rebetol online
rebetol 200 mg online
[url=http://buy-methylprednisolone.webspawner.com/]buy depo medrol for dogs
[/url] order Methylprednisolone 16 mg
medrol gout
methylprednisolone jock itch
http://biaxin-buy.webs.com/ purchase biaxin online
http://sustiva-efavirenz.webs.com/ order Generic Sustiva 500 mg
http://asacol-mesalamine.webs.com/ mesalamine buy
http://www.freewebs.com/pentasa-mesalamine/ how to buy asacol
Post a Comment